Woodlands renovation turns 1960s property into modern delight

IT took Michael and Sophie Hirth two years of sweat and sacrifice to transform this home, so it’s little wonder they say the secret to a profitable renovation is hard work.

House selection and the state of the property market also matter, according to the three-time home renovators, who have worked their makeover magic in Wembley Downs and Doubleview.

A 1960s home on a 642sq m Woodlands property is their latest and largest project – and not an inch of the block remains untouched.

313 Huntriss Road, Woodlands before the renovation.

After buying the home three years ago for its great bones and potential, the couple sacrificed their social life and spent many late nights and weekends on renovation tasks – from stripping wallpaper layers to reconfiguring walls, demolishing bathrooms and adding an alfresco area and four-car garage.

“This property also had the added bonus of being on a hill, which allowed for sweeping inland views.

“We wanted to achieve a house that was spacious, modern but still in keeping with the original style.

313 Huntriss Road, Woodlands before the renovation.

“We aimed to maximise the view and also wanted to create a continuation from indoors to outdoors.”

The couple’s skills again proved the perfect complement – Mr Hirth is a plumber and brought his trade skills to the project, while Mrs Hirth has an interior design diploma and designed the bathrooms, kitchens and furnishings.

313 Huntriss Road, Woodlands post-renovation.

“By now, we are both pretty good at painting,” she said.

Behind an exterior of bold, clean lines, the four-bedroom, three-bathroom home has a modern, industrial feel, with various finishes throughout including timber and porcelain tiles, matt black cabinetry, timber veneers and timber-lined ceilings.

Gone are the original small, drab living areas, replaced by a modern open-plan area on the top floor, where concrete-look porcelain floor tiles strikingly contrast with the lounge area’s scrapwood television recess and kitchen’s black cabinetry and subway tiles.

Floor-to-ceiling tiles in the same finish define the ensuite, as does the bath’s backdrop of New York tiles.

Plush grey carpet softens the ambience in two bedrooms, with original jarrah partitions repurposed to create the main bedroom’s feature wall.

Mrs Hirth’s favourite area is the alfresco area, which is a triumph of functionality and aesthetics.